Chapter 103 Pan Tao
More than a month has passed in a flash.
After the emperor returned to the capital, the court headed by Wang Yan seemed to have been in contact with the princes, and messengers kept coming and going.
In mid-December, the emperor issued an edict: Change the Yuan Dynasty to Yongxing.
In other words, the remaining half of this year is called the first year of Yongxing.
This year was really troubled for the emperor, so much so that he changed his reign several times.
The year name was Yongxing in the first month, changed to Yongan at the end of the month, Jianwu in August, Yongan in October, and Yongxing again in December.
The historians responsible for recording the actual records of today were all dumbfounded. After a heated debate, they decided to name this year's era in the history books as Yongxing.
The emperor issued another edict: deposing the throne of Emperor Sima Ying's younger brother, he will still be the king of Chengdu, and he will be ordered to live in the capital and not leave without authorization.
At the same time, the position of Queen Yang Xianrong was restored, and the position of Prince Sima Tan was restored.
After a lot of twists and turns, just like the year number, it is back to the starting point.
The battle seemed to be fought in vain, and the people seemed to have died in vain.
But people have to look forward and life has to go on. Amidst the heavy snow, the second year of Yongxing (305) came unexpectedly.
"Taizai Sima Yong petitioned Sikong to be Taifu. News came from the East China Sea, and Sikong Jian refused to resign." said Pan Tao, the Huangmen servant in the northwest of Hualin Garden.
Shao Xun did not answer his words, but picked up his bow and arrow and shot down a pheasant.
The sergeants cheered in unison.
Chen Yougen, Huang Biao, Yu An, and Yao Yuan rode out quickly. In the end, Huang Biao, with his quick eyes and quick hands, caught the pheasant in his arms.
After riding his horse back, he jumped down lightly, half-kneeling in the snow, raised the pheasant high above his head, and said: "General, the prey is here."
"Reward you. Yes." Shao Xun laughed.
Behind him were two pack horses, with many prey hanging on both sides of the saddles - I told you not to hibernate and to wander around in the cold weather. Is something wrong?
Some of the strong men in the teaching team who were good at riding and shooting also made gains, mostly pheasants and hares.
Now the skin and belly have been peeled off and dealt with.
Of course everyone should eat meat together.
"The general is really a great shot." Pan Tao followed closely beside Shao Xun and praised.
Shao Xun still looked ahead, his eyes catching the decaying grass in the mountains and forests, not letting go of any movement.
"Dong, dong, dong..." The drums sounded, and several groups of soldiers held long guns, lined up in neat formation, and stepped forward quickly.
There was a burst of chickens and dogs in the forest, and several prey ran out in panic.
Shao Xun caught the bow as fast as lightning, took a rough aim, and the arrow flew out.
A fiery red fox rolled on the ground, swept its legs, and stopped moving.
The soldiers who were confident in their archery skills also started shooting with their bows, and there was constant laughter in the field.
Wang Que'er rode a fast horse, ran to the fox, fished it sideways, and rode back.
Zhang Daniu, a student soldier of the second phase of Luoyang, sighed regretfully and did not grab it.
The fox was quickly sent over.
"Master Shao shot the fox's eye..." Wang Que'er said with the eyes of a god.
Shao Xun coughed. He planned to shoot his right eye, but ended up shooting his left eye.
This error is reasonable, right?
"Cook it while it's hot, keep the skin, I'll use it." Shao Xun handed the fox back and said.
Sikong is far away in the East China Sea, and the princess is alone in Luoyang. She should not be in a good mood - well, it seems to be pretty good.
Anyway, shoot a few more foxes and make a new fur for the princess as a belated New Year's gift.
On the other hand, hunting in autumn and winter is also a kind of military training.
According to the requirements of flags and golden drums, the soldiers advanced or retreated in unison to drive away the prey.
Hunters can also improve their archery skills.
People who are not very proficient can also participate, so that they can become more familiar with it when fighting in the future.
As the population in the Luoyang Basin decreases, there are more and more animals in the mountains and forests. In the future, more hunting can be organized, which can not only eat meat, but also train soldiers, getting the best of both worlds.
While I was thinking about it, another fox ran out.
"Whoosh!" The arrow shot through the air and killed him on the spot.
The cheers sounded again.
After the Battle of Dangyin, the newly joined soldiers looked at Shao Xun with awe. They didn’t take aim just now, they raised their hands and shot, and they actually hit.
It has long been rumored in the army that General Shao's archery skills are the best in the capital. Even though he has some reputation, he should be among the most powerful ones.
After the formation of the Central Army in Luoyang was destroyed, and the guards were scattered from the base camp archers, he may have been promoted to the most powerful one.
"There are so many prey. This was a forbidden garden before, right?" Shao Xun put down his horn bow and asked.
"It is still a forbidden garden now, but the fence is broken." Pan Tao smiled and said: "Since the Cao Wei Dynasty, there has been a forbidden land in the northwest of Fanglin Garden, which is more than a thousand miles wide. Gao Rou once went to Shu, saying There are 600 tigers, 500 wolves, 10,000 foxes, and no deer. After Shaoling County Duke (Cao Fang) succeeded to the throne, it was renamed Hualin Garden. Unfortunately, no one repaired it in the past 20 years. , there are many tigers and wolves running out, but they are rare.”
To put it simply, the Forbidden Garden is a man-made abnormal ecosystem specially designed for royal hunting.
There is a fence around it, which is "more than a thousand miles wide" and the people are not allowed to farm or cut wood.
The animals inside are all artificially released, and the species are relatively single.
Deer and rabbits are at the bottom of the food chain, tigers, foxes and wolves are predators, and they are also prey for humans.
When the emperor is off hunting, the animals inside will multiply rapidly and the ecology will be on the verge of collapse. At this time, artificial intervention is even required, either to kill or release prey.
To put it bluntly, this is not a real mountain forest, it is just an artificial place for royal hunting. It is a simple and easy version.
Luoyang has been eventful in the past ten years or so.
Not many people care about Forbidden Garden anymore, and it is gradually being cannibalized by aristocratic families.
Part of Shi Chong's Jingu Garden encroached on the forbidden garden grassland, but no one took care of it.
Of course, the aristocratic families that encroached on the Forbidden Garden don’t really want these lands now.
Some people were convicted in the political reshuffle, some lost their families in the war, and some fled to other states. Just like the climate of the entire Luoyang Basin-some people come and some leave, but the population has been decreasing.
"Shilang Pan..." Shao Xun picked up the bow again and said.
"What's the matter, General?" Pan Tao was a little surprised. The few times he had started a conversation just now, the other party was not very enthusiastic. Why would he take the initiative to talk to him again? "The wind is cold in winter, but the minister does not have a pair of cold-proof shoes. How can I treat such a big-hearted minister poorly?" After saying that, he raised his hand and shot another arrow, knocking a fleeing wolf to the ground.
When the knights saw it, they rushed out to fight for the prey.
"The wolf skin was given to the servant to make a pair of boots to keep out the wind and cold." Shao Xun looked back at him and said with a smile.
Pan Tao was slightly moved, saluted solemnly, and said: "Thank you, general, for your love."
"Can a general of the Kingdom also be called a general?" Shao Xun laughed and asked.
"The imperial court has appointed Caiguan General." Pan Tao said.
"I resign." Shao Xun waved his hand and said: "I am a general of the Yue family. How can I accept this position without Sikong's permission?"
Strictly speaking, a lieutenant. Sima was also a court official, because he was appointed by the court, and the king had no power to appoint an official of this level, even an eighth-grade official.
But rules are rules and reality is reality.
Lieutenant, Lieutenant Sima and even internal history, Lang Zhongling, Da Nong and other feudal official positions are strictly speaking "officials of the imperial court", but in the eyes of the world, this is an "attribute" with a very obvious color of personal dependence. "officials", especially in the past ten years.
Therefore, in order to show his merit in welcoming the emperor, the emperor happily added Shao Xun to the post of "general officer" (fifth grade), and Shao Xun "confirmed his resignation".
This result almost made the emperor autistic.
Why would such a loyal minister not want the fifth-grade general I gave him?
Shao Xun was embarrassed to tell him that even if he was promoted to an official position, I would not dare to ask for it.
I am an eighteen-year-old young man who was promoted to the rank of general in such a short time. Not to mention what other people think, does Sikong still dare to use me? Everyone in the shogunate is still not allowed to rebel?
This is not an era where one can become a military governor at the age of nineteen or twenty.
At that time, as long as you dare to fight hard, have courage, have the support of brothers, kill generals and drive commanders, what can you do if you become a self-proclaimed soldier? Doesn't the imperial court have to hold its nose and make up for you with a formality, send you a banner, a map, and a seal to turn your stay into a genuine military envoy?
But not now.
The emperor's trust can only be betrayed unless Sikong agrees.
"You don't want the title of general, and you can't be appointed outside. The young man is caught in the middle." Pan Tao looked into Shao Xun's eyes, as if he wanted to capture something.
“Don’t look at me like that.” Shao Xun smiled and said, “The reconstruction of the Forbidden Army has not yet begun, and the generals are really useless. Is it possible for me to recruit the master to build roads? He was recruited for a false reputation. The real disaster is what a wise man would not do. "
If he takes up a military position and is sent out to serve as a political officer, he can only be a county magistrate.
Don’t think this is small.
Danyang Ganzhuo once declined Sikong's invitation, but last year he was invited again and again, and finally served as the shogunate and joined the army, but soon left the government to serve as the magistrate of Lihu County.
No matter what family background someone has, how can he be admired by Sikong, but when he is transferred to a local official, he will just be a county magistrate.
When Lieutenant Sima becomes the county magistrate, it can be called a "promotion". Is that a promotion?
But Shao Xun was stupid and gave up his military position to join politics. He was courting death.
Pan Tao smiled when he heard Shao Xun's straightforward answer.
It is really rare to find such a clear-headed and rational person who clings to military power and refuses to let go of hawks.
He appreciated it more and more.
"Actually, General, there is no need to worry at all." Pan Tao said suddenly.
"Oh? What does Pan Shilang mean?"
"May I ask the general, why are county magistrates, governors and even governors valued by others?"
"People , land, wealth?”
“Yes.” Pan Tao did not expect Shao Xun’s thinking to be so direct, and said happily: “Even a small county magistrate can call upon masters and recruit soldiers. Raising money and food is something that many officials find difficult to do.”
Shao Xun looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
"General, since you know the key, why don't you try to figure it out?" Pan Tao asked with a smile.
"You mean..." Shao Xun seemed to have some realization.
"Of course!" Pan Tao clapped his hands and laughed, saying: "There have been wars in more than ten counties in Henan County for many years, and countless people have abandoned their land and fled. Even if we can only guard the fertile soil, we have to import it from other states. Transport food to Beijing. Why don't you use it?"
Shao Xun thought for a while and shook his head: "No, the court will not allow large forts and manors to appear near Luoyang."
"Then go a little further." Pan Tao said without hesitation: "Do you know that during the Qi Wannian Rebellion in Guanzhong, the refugees from Xizhou moved out on a large scale, first to Shu and then to Henan, sowing and harvesting by themselves? , gathered in Chengwu? Moreover, the general may have heard that Liu Yuan raised troops in Bingzhou, defeated Dongying Gongteng, captured several cities, and invaded Taiyuan. A large number of people in Bingzhou went south, passing through Hanoi, and headed straight to Luoyang. In the future, like the refugees in Xizhou, they will live in Chengwu. Can the court take care of it? "
Shao Xun was a little moved.
Pan Tao observed his words and added more energy, saying: "General, does he know about Yugun in Yingchuan?"
"Shishi Yugon?" Shao Xun asked.
Pan Tao smiled: "He was indeed a virgin, but he was not just a scholar. Four years ago, Zhao Wanglun usurped the throne, and the kings raised their troops, causing a melee. During this period, Zhang Hong led his army to attack Yangzhai. Yu Gun led the crowd to protect Yushan and build a dock at Yushan. Seeing that it was in good order, Hong did not dare to invade, so he retreated. "
"That's it." Shao Xun nodded and said, "I underestimated Yu Gon before, thinking that he was just a timid and fearful person who hid in the mountains with his wife."
"Yu Shubao He is indeed a timid person." Pan Tao laughed and said, "Now he is going to Jijun with his wife to build a fort in Linlu Mountain and gather people to farm."
Shao Xun laughed dumbly.
I have to admit that he was moved by Pan Tao.
Everything he has now relies too much on the trust of his superiors.
If one day Sikong listens to the slander, thinks that he cannot control himself, or no longer trusts himself for other reasons, then the resources available to him will be greatly reduced.
Everything will be successful if it is forewarned, and it will be ruined if it is not forewarned.
Even if you are destined to leave Luoyang in the future, before that, it is good to occupy more fields, recruit more villagers and refugees, and produce money and food.
The Silver Spear Army is your own private army.
How to explain that Sikong returned to Luoyang in the future? What if he must incorporate them into the Royal Army or even the Imperial Army? What if he refuses to pay the Silver Lancers?
Pan Tao allowed himself to occupy more land and raise his own troops. This was the right thing to do.
But how to operate it and where to choose to build the manor still needs to be considered.
At the same time, Shao Xun was also speechless.
He holds great military power in Luoyang and is quite famous. He thought he would attract some low-level talents who were unwilling to join him. Unexpectedly, I actually caught a big shark with one stroke...
Most people don't dare to use Pan Tao, a poisonous person like Jia Xu. You still have to think carefully about what he said.
(End of this chapter)